Takaichi hails UK defence ties despite next-gen jet spending uncertainty

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hailed increasing defence cooperation with the UK during a meeting with her British counterpart Keir Starmer on Sunday, amid uncertainty about a new fighter jet programme.

“The UK is a very important partner to Japan given the deepening of ties across a wide range of fields, including security and defence,” Takaichi said as she met with Starmer in London. “Given the GCAP project, I think we have reached a level that we can call a near-alliance,” she said, adding that she hoped to elevate ties to the next level with Starmer.

“I’m really pleased that today we can reconfirm our deep commitment in relation to GCAP,” Starmer told Takaichi.

The comments on GCAP, or Global Combat Air Programme, an initiative between the UK, Japan, and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2035, come as the project faces roadblocks including delays to Britain’s financial contribution and uncertainty after UK Defence Secretary John Healey – a champion of the project – resigned on Thursday.

Starmer and Takaichi were expected to discuss the launch of the next phase of the project through an international contract set to be signed this month, according to a statement by the British government ahead of the meeting. The statement did not say how much money would be invested.

The pledge to sign the international contract by the end of June would signal continued commitment, but the length of the contract wasn’t immediately clear. While an initial agreement lasting through June was signed in April to tide the project over, no longer-term contract has surfaced.

Britain had been expected to unveil billions of pounds for the GCAP in late 2025 as part of its 10-year defence investment plan, but it was postponed by several months due to a spending row between the UK defence ministry and Treasury.